Congregational song – forming faith, making disciples – Week 2

The teaching series kicked off well last Sunday – with some initial establishing some basics about the role of music in worship and especially citing the case for music seeking to engage the ‘totality’ of God and the totality of our human condition. After this, we spent some time reflecting on congregational song 1. as praise 2. as prayer. Yes, we sang lots. I enjoyed the singing of a marvellous 20th century Fred Prat Green hymn: When in our music, God is glorified (I even played it on the new Allen organ in the evening) AND the way the congregation embraced the wonderful old Vineyard classic: Hosanna. In the evening service, we sang a South African short song: God welcomes all, as well as its companion piece, the (Themba) Amen. This one was written in a South African hospice which works with HIV/Aids patients. Great songs, and brought to world-attention through John Bell of the Iona Community

SO … on to today. During all three services today, we’ll focus on the place of congregational song as:

confession & lament

proclaiming justice

forming our intercessions and community life

I’m looking forward to it – though I’ll sleep well tonight!

Click here for a full transcript of today’s teaching. For Christian ministry, non-profit use only please.